China’s Thailand ban puts longan in pickle

An indefinite Chinese ban on Thai longan imposed on August 13 over contamination with mealybugs has thrown a wrench into Cambodian exports of the fruit to the neighbouring country, according to a senior Cambodian government official.

And as the harvest season ramps up in Cambodia, tens of thousands of tonnes of longan will be unable to reach their intended destinations as Thai traders and importers cancel orders, and a considerable portion of the fruit could be left to rot, an industry player emphasised.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries secretary of state Hean Vannhorn said via Facebook: “Thailand will beyond a doubt stop buying Pailin longan from Cambodia, which it had typically bought to repackage for export to China.”

He…